Eating disorders in cross-country sports have been around for a long time, according to Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen, but this winter the development looks anything but good.

- I'm getting worried. It was many years ago that we found out how many have problems. For over 20 years we have been trying to work preventively and so it looks like we are not doing enough, ”she says.

The most vulnerable are young riders, boys and girls, aged 15 to 17 years. But there are also those at senior level who have or are having problems.

- Many people think that this with body weight is such an important part. If they do not succeed for a season, some conclude "if I just lose weight then it will be better", says Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen.

- When young girls and boys start a weight loss on their own, things often go wrong.

She says that many of the young riders look at role models, which in some cases are very thin, and think it is crucial to be as light as possible.

- Among those who are the best at skiing, we have some that are naturally thin. When practitioners, coaches and parents do not know better and see that thin riders perform well, they believe that this is how you have to look to succeed. There we have a dilemma, says Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen.

In addition, she says, it can be seen as a simple solution for a trainer without sufficient experience and training to grasp the weight and make suggestions for a rider.

"It's taboo"

In order to stop riders from just staking, the tracks have been made tougher. Someone who, according to Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen, favors light riders. Petter Northug, who has often said that he is too heavy to win for example the Tour de Ski, is also aware that there is an increased risk because of it.

- It is a big risk, because there are courses suitable for light riders. But then there are other courses where riders like me can win. I see it as being two types of riders, he says.

Eating disorders in, for example, gymnastics have attracted considerable attention in recent years. But Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen feels that eating disorders are something that people often talk about in endurance sports, such as cross-country skiing.

- It's taboo. If we are to move on, we must look at eating disorders as a sports injury. Everyone thinks it's perfectly okay to talk about a cruciate ligament injury, but you shouldn't talk about eating disorders, she says.

- Many people say "athletes do not have mental health problems". It must be allowed to talk about having mental problems.

Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen believes that we have closed our eyes to the problems for a long time and now practitioners, parents and trainers have to open their eyes and gain knowledge that different body types can perform - and that it is not weight loss that should take the rider to the top.

- I had hoped that it was prevented more at the ski gym and federations, but it is not set in systems. More and more people are experiencing problems, she says.

"It is not accepted"

She now believes that demands must be placed on the International Ski Federation of Fis and organizers, and prevent too often there are courses with steep climbs or loose tracks, which gives light skiers a clear advantage. In addition, associations, clubs, coaches and parents are responsible. To prevent eating disorders, knowledge about food and eating disorders needs to be taught early.

- Coaches must actively highlight that it is not acceptable to use weight loss as a success trick. The union can show that they have a culture where everyone should eat well, says Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen.

- At some ski gym it sits in the walls, I dare say, that it is a "narrow culture", and it is not accepted. There they have a responsibility to show that they have a healthy culture.

She also believes that it is important that federations enter and mark by turning off riders who weigh too little, who have lost a lot of weight or show signs of not having a healthy relationship with food.

According to Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen, it is also important not only to focus on the girls.

- The guys have been forgotten for many years. But we see, especially in endurance sports, that many guys have problems.